The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-12

yassed the State before he found the Demo
cratic party united, and in peace and COZ
cord. He found that when notices for a
meeting went forth, that they brought out
the men who stood together on Democratic
principles. He had only spoken at three
meetings during the present canvass, because
he had only received three invitations, to
which he responded.
He came to this meeting because it is q
Democratic meeting, free to all. Times
come into the party. In Shreveport large
numbers remained away because q Demo-
cratic paper warned them to keep away; and
here to-day he is told that word had gone out
that this was not d Nichols meeting, and
that the Nichols Democrats must not attend.
In Republican times the colored people were
kept away from the meetings. Are Demo-
Cats to betold that they must not listen to
the arguments Of their Democratic brethren
who are advising them to stand by the. party
for the sake of peace and harmony? We have
candidates, honored men, but a campaign
has been organized and is progressing in the
interest OF one candidate and against the
Democratic administration.
The speaker next explained the phase
which this campaign has assumed. Gov.
Nichols m before the people as the candi-
date OF
A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT PARTY.
The meetings of the opposition are for
none but themselves. He has received no
invitations to these meetings, nor had others
to the Nichols programme. Is CHS tie way
to harmonic the Democratic party?
The speaker could not see OF what sins the
present administration or their predecessors
ton taa s4 or That tie %f ina ense Of II the $ State feii had
been wasted. 'It is charged in other States
and places, he said, THAT we are misgov-
eyned by. a dishonest government, and the
| same is charged by our own people and some
papers. | deny that. We put that admins.
ton in power, and we are bound to uphold
it, and for that reason l am unable to lend
my power to that canvass that is being waged
for Gov. Nichols and against a Demomo-
cratic administration" q.
He denied that any high crimes and misde-
meanors had been committed against the
people. Why should we not be discussing
tariff issues, instead of being divided and
discussing Nichols. McEnery, Moncure and
other men ? He was here as the advocate Of
no man, but to say that no campaign should
be made against any aspirant for office. Gen.
Nichols IS U great and good man, but the
claims made for him now are extTayagant.
He was not our political saviour. He was
not elected by the vote of the parishes which
nominated him. He was elected mainly by
Orleans and other parishes in North Louisi-
ana which
VOTED AGAINST HIS NOMINATION.
Red River, Bossier, Rapides, and othes par
lshes were represented IN the Nichols Legs.
lature by colored men. If you are free to-day
and you control the politics of your parish,
you owe it to yourselves and to no single man
in the State. / would support the candidacy
of Nichols, as we'll as any other good citi.
zen who is nominated. You want to develol
this country and invite half q million people
to come here and live. Are you going to dc
it by advertising your country as bad and
misgoverned. IL it because we have no Re.
publican party that we are to turn our guns
upon each other. I am not afraid of the Re
publican party, but it is ready to organize a.
any moment. Do you wish the African ract
to hold the balance of power, and to decide
party supremacy in louisiana 1t is the
story of Mahoneism in Virginia over again il
Louisiana. The same thing has appeared il
certain counties in Mississippi, where. Demo
Gratis have divided themselves. Division!
you, men Of Bossier and Caddo. Onl!
through the maintenance of the Democratic
party can you rest in peace and harmony
You cannot have if by such divisions as exis
to-day, which / trust will pass ava in al
effort to unite in the interests OF the Demo
cratic party,